News Roundup 11 August 2024
Aug 11, 2024 • 4 min Read
Marcos slams China for airspace harassment over Scarborough Shoal | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sunday condemned the actions by China’s air force on August 8 against a Filipino military plane patrolling over Scarborough Shoal.
Marcos called the People’s Liberation Army Air Force’s actions “unjustified, illegal and reckless” as the Philippine Air Force (PAF) aircraft was conducting a routine maritime security operation in Philippine airspace.
“We have hardly started to calm the waters, and it is already worrying that there could be instability in our airspace,” Palace’s statement read.
“The Philippines will always remain committed to proper diplomacy and peaceful means of resolving disputes. However, we strongly urge China to demonstrate that it is fully capable of responsible action, both in the seas and in the skies,” it added.
On August 8, multi-role fighter jets of the Chinese Air Force executed dangerous maneuvers and dropped flares near the PAF patrol plane while it was flying in the airspace over Scarborough Shoal.
Multi-role fighter jets are designed to perform a variety of combat and operational roles. These aerial vessels are usually equipped with missiles and guns.
This is the first reported incident of China’s harassment in Philippine airspace. China’s coast guard and maritime militias often escalate tensions in parts of the West Philippine Sea, which has, on several occasions, left Philippine Coast Guard personnel injured.
The August 8 incident was condemned by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Saturday.
Full Story at: Marcos slams China for airspace harassment over Scarborough Shoal | Philstar.com
Suspected accomplice in Percy Lapid slay dies during arrest | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines —The alleged accomplice in the killing of broadcaster Percival Mabasa, also known as Percy Lapid, died on Sunday morning during an operation carrying out his arrest.
In an interview with SuperRadyo DZBB on Sunday afternoon, National Capital Region Police Director Jose Nartatez Jr. said that the co-conspirator of self-confessed gunman Joel Escorial shot himself in the bathroom in Lipa City, Batangas during the operation.
“Nagbaril po siya sa sarili niya in-front of the negotiator at ng pinsan niya,” Nartatez said in an interview with DZBB.
(He shot himself in front of the negotiator and his cousin.)
The man was initially identified by the alias “Orly.” Police later confirmed his identity as Jake Mendoza, 40 years old.
During the police raid, Nartatez said that Mendoza held his live-in partner and child as hostages.
The authorities then asked some family members of Mendoza to talk him out of the situation, which resulted in the release of the woman and the child.
Afterward, he went to the bathroom and shot himself, according to Nartatez.
Full Story at: Suspected accomplice in Percy Lapid slay dies during arrest | Philstar.com
Recalibrated anti-drug ops target sources, not people – PNP chief | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil on Sunday said the police force is now implementing a recalibrated approach in its fight against illegal drugs.
This approach prioritizes targeting the sources and supply chains rather than focusing on street-level pushers and users.
He said this drive is designed to be more effective and less violent, as it puts premium on human rights while addressing the drug problem at its very core.
Marbil characterized the drug problem as complex issue.
“Our previous strategies concentrated too much on cutting off the heads, but we need to target the body — the entire supply chain and the sources driving the drug trade,” he said in a statement.
The recalibrated strategy will involve intensified intelligence operations and stronger community engagement to identify and dismantle drug trafficking networks, he noted.
“We are now focusing on high-value drug personalities and the movements of illegal drugs across the country. These are the real targets—those who orchestrate the trade and profit from it, not the street-level pushers and users, who are often victims of circumstance,” Marbil explained.
Full Story at: Recalibrated anti-drug ops target sources, not people – PNP chief (inquirer.net)
VP Sara was on vacation while PH was being battered by Carina – solons | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Two lawmakers of the House of Representatives chided Vice President Sara Duterte after she criticized the national government’s alleged failure to fund the flood control program in Davao City.
Zambales Rep. Jefferson Khonghun and La Union Rep. Francisco Paolo Ortega mentioned Duterte’s trip to Germany during the onslaught of typhoon Carina.
“Sino ba ang tinatawag ng mga netizens na ‘lakwatsara’ sa gitna ng malakas na ulan noong Carina? Hindi ba height ng irresponsibility yun? Ikaw ang second highest official of the land, tapos maglalakwatsa ka sa kasagsagan ng ulan at bagyo?” Khonghun asked.
(Who among them is being called ‘lakwatsara’ [which sounds similar to the Filipino slang for someone who frequently goes on vacations] during the height of typhoon Carina? Wasn’t that irresponsible for the second highest official of the land to go on hiatus amid the rains and a typhoon?)
“Tapos, wala ka na nga sa bansa hanggang ngayon, panay pa ang reklamo mo,” the lawmaker said.
(And then, you’re out of the country now and yet, you still keep on complaining.)
Full Story at: Solons: VP was on vacation as PH was being battered by Carina (inquirer.net)
